Canadian ag technology company Bio-Agtive was set up with one aim in mind; that is to use basic science to help farmers reduce fertiliser costs and carbon footprint at the same time.
The company recently had its Bio-Agtive Emissions System out on display at Australian partner FarmTech’s stand at the AgQuip field days, which ran from August 19 to 21.
The concept was simply to feed tractor exhaust into the ground instead of into the environment, which in turn provides natural fertilisation to the plant while also stimulating the microbiology in the soil.
Bio-Agtive founder Gary Lewis says his system was a result of over a decade of development and testing on his own farm in southern Alberta, Canada. It all started in 2001 when his irrigated crops failed to grow after applying the recommended amount of fertiliser. That’s when he decided to set out in search of a biological solution and challenge the traditional synthetic way of fertilisation.
Essentially, the Bio-Agtive Emissions System, which can be installed on to any existing tractor, works by capturing emissions from the tractor and cooling it before injecting it safely into the ground to avoid back-pressure or melted houses.
Today, the system has been tested and installed on farm equipment all over the world in countries such as Tanzania, Kazakhstan, China and Australia.
Lewis says Bio-Agtive has been promoting and testing the system in Australia since 2007 but the concept is still new to most.
“The reason why one should be practising something new and innovative on your farm is agriculture is always evolving, it’s never the same,” he says.
Lewis adds the company is facing tough challenges with funding and scepticism in the industry but says he is not one to give up.
“We’re not just an assembly line. We’re actually in the business of doing something good for the environment as well as for the public.”
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